Motor-vehicle.



W. BARBER.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLmATloN FILED Auw. |913.

PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. BARBER.

MOTOR VEHICLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG.8. |913.

PatentedSept. 14, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM BARBER, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patenten sept. an, tais.

Application filed. August 8, 1913. Serial No. 783,744.

To all whom 'it may .concer/n.'

Be it known that I,YWILL1AM BARBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, in the cityand State of New York, United States of America, have invented certain-new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification.

rIhe object of my invention is to provide a motor actuated vehicle withgreat tractive power, in which road vibration through the tractionwheels, and also liability of skidding when turning, is in each casereduced to a minimum; which motor vehicle may be used alone as a vehiclefor any purpose, and with but slight change in construction, may beadapted to be used as a motor-tractor for use in hauling freightingtrailers, agricultural implements, etc., in all cases where suchtractors are of use. Such device of the new and improved form of' myinvention herein disclosed and claimed, is of extreme simplicity ofconstruction, of little comparative weight, and of few mechanical parts;

and consequentlyof little liability to wear through use, or todeteriorate through age.

To such ends my invention consists in substance and broadly, in securingtwo traction-wheels upon a single piece axle closely adjacent to oneanother in such manner as to rotate with such axle, and to aiiix to theaxle between such traction-wheels a suitable driving gear-wheel, whichis rotated by the motor through suitable intervening driving mechanism;such axle p rotating lin suitable bearings or journal boxes supported bythegearwheel housing; andin like bearings or journal-boxes carried bythe vehicle side-springs, secured thereto within the central bowportions, so as to support the axle at either end;

,and when to be used as a motor-tractor, I

include in the,L construction in most cases,

and where to be used for freight carrying trailers, a new and improvedform of fifthwheel forming the connection between them, wherein thetraverse of the tractor beneath the trailer is limited, and friction isreduced.

My said invention is fully shown and described in the followingspecification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, whereinsimilar letters or numerals of reference designate like or equivalentparts wherever found throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure l is a top-plan view of such invention, in the form of amotor-tractor attaclied to a two-wheeled freight trailer; and Fig. 2 isa side View of the construction shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a top-planview of my improved form' of traction driving mechanism used, takenpartially in. horizontal section in order to more fully show theconstruction. Fig. 4f is a view of my invention from the side, similarto Fig. 2, in the form of a freight carrying truck complete withinitself and without a trailer. Fig. 5 is a side view in elevation of themechanism shown in top-view in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a front view in detail,mostly in central vertical crosssection of the driving-gear wheel,drivingaxle, traction-wheel hubs, etc., showing the particular manner inwhich the same are constructed and placed in the practical embodiment ofmy invention. Fig. 7 is a sideview, partially in central verticalcross-section of the axle driving-gear and its housing, looking from theleft pf Fig. 6; and Figs. 8 and 9, are respectively, detail topplan, andside central vertical crosssectional views, of thej improved form offifth.

wheel or connecting mechanism, I prefer to use in the tractor-trailerform of embodiment of my invention, for forming the horizontallytraversable connection between them..

Referring to the drawings: The reference letter A designates a tractorof my improved form (Figs. 1 and 2), attached to a twowheeled freightcarrying trailer B, by means of the fifth-wheel formed of the plates 33and 34, rigidly secured in any desired manner to A and B respectively;whereby as will be seen, such trailer and tractor together form asix-wheeled vehicle, the two front wheels of which are of theknuckle-joint axle well known form, for purposes of steering; suchwheels 24 being connected with the usual hand steering-wheel 24 by anysuitable gearing. And while I prefer this construction, it is evidentthat the relative positions of the traction-wheels 13 and steershown inFig. 4) may 'be changed and the former placed in front of the latter,without departing from the broad scope of my 1nvention. A

While any suitable motor-may be used, I

prefer to use what is known as a unit-motor (indicated by C in Figs. 3and 5) having located within the same housing a changespeed andreversing-gear D, the power being transmitted to the driving-axlethrough the universally jointed main or drive-shaft E, the joint 7 beingin' actuating connection with the shaft 6 formed integral with orsecured to the endlessscrew 5, of the drivinggear F, which meshes withthe endless-screw -gear-Wheel 9, rigidly secured'upon the sin.-

gle-piece live driving-axle 10, in any desired manner, usually by meansof a suitable key l1, so that they will rotate in unison.

The driving-gear composed of the screw 5 and wheel 9, is inclosed in asuitable housing composed of a lower part 2, and an upper part 3 havingat its upper-side the endless-screw chamber 4; such parts 2 and 3 beingprovided with abutting flanges for securing the same together by meansof suitable screw-bolts (Figs. 5 and 7).

As shown in Figs. 3 and 7, the endlessscrew shaft 6 is provided withsuitable shoulders against which respectively abut the rearroller-bearing 29 and the forward like bearing 30, mounted in suitableend chambers formed in the endless-screw chamber 4 of the housing; suchbearings-being held in proper adjustment by a thrust-block screw-plug31, and a gland-plug 32, each provided with spanner holes.

The endless-screw gear-wheel 9 is usually provided with shorthub-flanges (Fig. 6) which abut against suitable roller-bearings 12,located in suitable chambers formed in the two-part housing, and throughsuch bearings passes the single-piece live driving-axle 10, which isrigidly secured to the hubs 13 of the two traction-wheels 13, usually bymeans of suitable keys 11; and one of the essential points of myinvention is that such traction-wheels should be in as close abutment tothe housing of the driving-gear, as it is possible to place them, withdue regard for proper 'structural strength and actuation.

such clips to each journal-box) within each of which clips is tightlysecured to the journal-box' underneath the same, the central bow portionof`a side leaf-spring of the well known form as shown at 21, whichsprings are secured to the side-pieces 41 of the main-frame or chassisof the tractor or vehiclefusually by means of links 23 and supports 22,in the well known manner.

The traction-Wheel hubs 13 are preferably provided With suitable annulardustanges 15 to keep dust out of the bearings; and suitable end vnutsand washers 20 are secured at the axle ends to hold the same againstside-slip. Forward springs 25, and

in the trailer rear-springs 21 are also usually provided, substantiallysimilar to the springs 21.

When to be used as a trailer tractor, my improved motor-vehiclehas`mounted thereonat the rear and firmly secured to the chassis ormain-frame 41, the lower-plate 34 of a-suitable horizontal fifth-wheel,coacting with the like upper-plate 33 secured to the trailer frame atthe forward end as shown. (Figs. 2, 8 and i 9). The two plates aresecured together by a central king-bolt 35, normally locked by acotterpin 36, and to lessen friction are usually providedi with theball-bearing indicated at 37 of Fig. 9. To .limit the horizontaltraverse of the tractor beneath the trailer in turning, etc., the upperplate 33 is provided `with a substantially semi-circular slot 38,

in which works the pin 39 rigidly secured to the lower-plate 34, whilethe lower plate 34 is provided with a similar slot 38', which is howevercut upon the line of a smaller circle (Figs. 8 and 9), in which slot38', works the pin 39 rigidly secured. in the upper-plate 33; and bythis construction it will be seen that the swing or traverse of thetractor beneath the trailer in turning, will be limited by the co-actionof such pins and slots, to substantially a quarter turn to the right orleft.

To strengthen the construction a torsionstrut 40, is provided which issecured at one end to the housing of the drivingfgear F and at the otherconnected with the mainframe or chassis, usually by being bolted to themotor-housing; andthe traction-wheels are ofcourse usually provided withbrakedrums 16, firmly bolted to the hubs.

.By the particular form of construction herein shown (which is only oneof the many forms in which the invention herein set forth and claimedmay in practice be embodied) while the full tractive power of two-wheelsis maintained, road vibration exerted upon the vehicle through the twotraction-wheels is reduced to a minimum by reason of their nearness toeach other, as is also the liability of such traction-wheels skidding onturns; and while I have shown Y ently of the traction wheels,

the wheels with grooved or double-tread tires, any other form may beused; and while I have shown an endless-screw form of driving-gearlocated between the two traction-wheels for driving purposes, any othersuitable form of power transmission gearing may be substituted therefor;and many other changes and modifications in construction may be madewithout departing from the scope of my invention.

I claim 1. In a. motor vehicle, in combination, a frame, normalgagesteering wheels, a traction axle mounted on the frame, closelyadjacent narrowgage traction wheels rigidly mounted on said axle adaptedto rotate in unison, a motor, power transmitting mechanism connectingsaid motor with said axle, and means associated with the upper part ofsaid frame adapted to permit a trailer to be removably secured theretoand limit the horizontal traverse of the vehicle with respect to thetrailer. l

2. In a motor vehicle, in combination, normal gage front steeringwheels, a single piece traction vaxlersupported at its ends, narrow gagetraction wheels fast on said axle to rotate in unison therewith, a drivegear mounted on the axle between the narrow gage traction wheels and`independently connected to rotate' with said axle, a motor and mechanismforming an actuating connection between the motor and said drive gear.

3. In a motor vehicle, in combination, normal gage front steeringwheels, a single piece traction axle supported at its ends,

narrow gage traction wheels mounted on said axle to rotate in unisontherewith, a motor, a gear wheel secured to the traction axle betweensaid wheels, and a power transmitting mechanism between 'said gear wheeland motor.

4. In a motor vehicle, in combination, normal gage front steeringwheels, a single piece traction axle supported at its ends, narrow gagetraction wheels fast on said axle to rotate in unison therewith, amotor, a gear for rotating the traction axle, said gear secured to saidaxle between and independa change speed and reversing gear mechanism forthe motor, and power transmitting mechanism between said change speedand reversing gear and the gear for rotating the traction axle.

5. In a motor vehicle, in combination, normal gage front steeringwheels, a single piece tractionl axle supported at its ends, narrow gagetraction wheels fast on said axle to rotate in unison therewith, amotor, means secured to the axle and located between the two tractionwheels to rotate said axle, mechanism forming an actuating connectionbetween said housing, and bearings for the axle carried by the housing.

6. In a motor vehicle, in combination, normal gage front steeringwheels, a single piece traction axle supported at its ends, narrow gagetraction wheels fast on said axle to rotate in unison therewith, amotor, 'a gear wheel for rotating the axle, said gear wheel secured tothe axle between and independently of the traction wheels, powertransmitting mechanism between said axle-gear wheel and the motor, a twopart housing for the gearing split longitudinally upon the axial line ofthe axle, and anti-friction `bearings for the axle supported by thehousing.

In a motor vehicle, in combination, normal gage front steering wheels, asingle piece traction axle supported at its ends, narrow gage tractionwheels fast on said axle to rotate in unison therewith, a motor, a gearwheel for rotating the axle, said gear wheel secured to the axle betweenand independently of the traction wheels, power transmitting mechanismbetween said gear wheels and motor and means for longitudinallyadjusting a portion of said power ltransmitting mechanism relatively toanother portion thereof.

In a motor vehicle, frame, a traction axle mounted on the frame, closelyadjacent independently removable narrow gage traction `wheels mounted onsaid axle and connected thereto to rotate in unison therewith, a drivegear independent of the'traction wheels and also mounted on 4saidl axleto rotate therewith, a motor, and

power transmitting mechanism connecting the motor and drive gear.

Signed in the county, city and State of New York, this seventh day ofAugust, nineteen hundred and thirteen.

means and the motor, a

in combination, a

WILLIAM BARBER. v

Witnesses RICHARD O. SMITH, 1 WILLIAM WAGNER.

